Burundi and Rwanda are at odds after a Rwandan soldier was arrested on Burundian soil earlier this week, with both sides offering conflicting explanations for the incident.
The Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) confirmed that Sergeant Emmanuel Sadiki, a driver, crossed into Burundi on Wednesday. Rwanda says he “unintentionally strayed” across the Gasenyi–Nemba border, in Rwanda’s southeast, before being detained by Burundian police. Kigali says he is being held at Kirundo police station in northern Burundi.
But the Burundian National Defence Force (FDN) gave a different account. It said the soldier admitted he had lost his way while returning from a bar near Rwanda’s Gako military camp, which also hosts a military academy. According to Burundian forces, Sgt Sadiki tried to flee after advancing about 700 meters into Burundian territory but was stopped and arrested by border police.
He is now in custody in Kirundo pending investigations, Burundian authorities said. The BBC could not independently verify either version of events.
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This marks the first known case in recent years of a Rwandan soldier being detained in Burundi, although similar cross-border arrests have been reported between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The RDF said it regretted the incident and would pursue “necessary diplomatic measures” with Bujumbura to secure the soldier’s release.
Relations between the two neighbours have been strained for nearly a decade. Tensions escalated in 2015 when Burundi accused Rwanda of backing a failed coup attempt and sheltering its alleged leaders—claims Rwanda denied. Although efforts at reconciliation were made in 2020, ties soured again in January 2024 when Burundi closed its land borders with Rwanda.
In January this year, President Évariste Ndayishimiye accused Rwanda, without evidence, of planning to invade his country. Rwanda later said the two governments were working on de-escalation.
Relations further deteriorated after Burundi deployed troops, at Kinshasa’s request, to join Congolese forces against the M23 rebellion in eastern DRC. Rwanda has long accused the Congolese army of collaborating with the FDLR militia, which Kigali considers a major security threat.
Burundi, meanwhile, has accused Rwanda of supporting the RED-Tabara rebel group, which is fighting Gitega’s government. Both the United Nations and Congolese authorities have also alleged Rwandan support for M23—allegations Kigali denies.
These mutual accusations have fuelled perceptions that Rwanda and Burundi are engaged in a proxy conflict in eastern DRC, even if neither side openly admits it.
